Living

People enjoy music because of how it makes them feel. Maybe it reminds them of a situation/event, brings about a sense of nostalgia, or just captures a raw emotion to...

Chronic illnesses can affect relationships and friendships significantly. As a result, many patients with one form of chronic disease or another encounter social problems regularly. The demands imposed on friends...

"Live in the now" seems like a faraway notion once you've received a life-changing medical diagnosis. This is especially true when it is a condition that forces you to face...

One thing you have heard people talk about is an LVAD or left ventricular assist device. It is exactly what it sounds like as it assists the left ventricle in...

This is not the 'sexiest' of all topics; however, I have personally experienced that constipation can adversely impact your quality of life. So what can cause constipation and why do...

When I think about support, I picture someone's arms under another person holding them up. I looked up the definition and it reads: bear all or part of the weight...

An unexpected medical emergency can land you in the back of an ambulance, emergency room, or once again in a hospital.  Sometimes it’s no big deal, while other times it...

I think it's clear by now, at least for those of us within the heart failure community, that stress is not good for those of us with heart disease. I...

Editor's note: this is part 2 of a 2-part series. Be sure to read part 1! As a young kid, I was fast and furious with everything. Somehow, I was...

Our mental health is very important to our overall health and well-being. However, in many cases, it is often the last aspect of our health to be treated. Living with chronic...

As a patient with a chronic health condition, it can be a challenge to find ways to stay active without feeling like you are jeopardizing your own health. This can...

Learning to live with heart failure comes with a handful of surprises. Some of these surprises are challenging, while some of them can be rewarding. To find out more about...

Editor's note: This is part 1 of a 2-part series. Be sure to also read part 2! Today, I want to talk about mindfulness. I previously wrote a few pieces...

Last month, I learned the hard way that heart failure can increase your risk of stroke. Near the end of last month, I had a stroke and was lucky enough...

There is no question that for most people, heart failure changes what everyday living looks like. However, how life changes can be different for everyone. To find out more about...

When it comes to managing chronic conditions, having a routine is essential. For many of us, dealing with the daily struggles and challenges of having heart failure can become frequently...

I was diagnosed with heart failure at 35. As someone who was previously very active and definitely independent, the fatigue, lightheadedness, and other (high burden) symptoms of heart failure have...

Editor's note: This is part 2 of a two-part series. Be sure to check out part 1! Revival had been going on for 6 days already and we were on...

A friend of mine in his early eighties sometimes refers to his “bonus life,” that is, his life after medical interventions that allow him to live longer than he might...

We have all been in a position where it is either after hours or the weekend and we need our doctor for something. Maybe we realize we are out of...